Connection device for connecting legs to top of workbench

ABSTRACT

A workbench includes a top with four legs connected to an underside thereof by four connection devices. Each connection device includes a connection member with a first tapered tube and a stationary member with a second tapered tube. Each of the first and second tubes has a flange extending inward therefrom. Four sleeves are respectively engaged with the aligned first and second tubes and each sleeve has two first grooves with which the flanges of the first and second tubes are engaged. Four legs are securely inserted into the four sleeves. Each sleeve has a lip in an inner periphery thereof and each leg has a second groove with which the lip is engaged. The relative positions between the first tube, the second tube, the sleeve and the leg are maintained by the flanges, the lip and the grooves.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connection device for easily connecting legs to a top of a workbench.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional workbench generally includes a top and a four legs which are connected to the underside of the top by four connection devices respectively. Each of the connection device includes a connection member which includes a frame and a first tube is connected to the frame. The frame is connected to the bench and the tube includes a tapered inner periphery. Each frame receives a stationary member which includes a second tube which includes a tapered periphery. A sleeve with tapered outer periphery is engaged with the first and second tube so that the sleeve can be securely engaged with the tapered inner peripheries of the first and second tubes. Each leg has an end engaged with the sleeve so as to be connected to the top of the workbench. However, either the first tube, the second tube and the sleeve lacks a proper stop mechanism to maintain the relative positions between these parts so that when a heavy load is put on the workbench, the sleeve and/or the leg moves toward the top of the workbench and are stock with each other. This situation might break the sleeves and the legs are difficult to be disengaged from the top when the workbench needs to reduce its size for convenience of transportation.

The present invention intends to provide a connection device for connection legs to a top of the workbench, wherein the sleeve includes grooves in outer periphery thereof and the first and second tubes each have a flange which is engaged with the grooves. The sleeve further includes a lip in an inner periphery thereof and the legs include groove for receiving the lips. By this way, the first tube, the second tube, the sleeve and the leg can be maintained at their positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a workbench and the workbench comprises a top and at least three connection members are fixed to an underside of the top. Each connection member has a first hole defined therethrough and a first tube extends from a top of the connection member and encloses the first hole. A first flange extends inward from a tapered inner periphery, of each of the at least three first tubes.

At least three stationary members are fixed to the at least three connection members respectively and each stationary member has a second hole defined therethrough. A second tube extends from a top of each of the at least three stationary members and encloses the second hole. A second flange extends inward from a tapered inner periphery of each of the at least three second tubes. The second tubes are in alignment with the first tubes.

At least three sleeves are engaged with the aligned first and second tubes respectively. Each of the at least three sleeves has a tapered outer periphery and a tapered inner periphery. Two first grooves are defined in the tapered outer periphery of each of the at least three sleeves and the first and second flanges are engaged with the two first grooves of each sleeve.

At least three legs each have a tapered outer periphery which is engaged with respective one of the at least three tapered inner peripheries of the at least three sleeves.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the workbench of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view to show the connection member and the stationary member of the connection device of the present invention are connected to the top of the bench;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the leg inserted into the sleeve which is engaged with the aligned first and second tubes of the connection member and the stationary member;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view to show the connection device of the present invention, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view to show the workbench of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the workbench of the present invention comprises a top 1 which includes two side walls 2 extending downward from two sides thereof and each side wall 2 has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. Four connection devices each have four connection members 3 fixedly connected to the horizontal portions of the two side walls 2 on an underside of the top 1. Each connection member 3 has a first hole 31 defined therethrough and a first tube 32 extends from a top of the connection member 3 and encloses the first hole 31. A first flange 33 extends inward from an open top of a tapered inner periphery of each of the first tubes 32.

Four stationary members 4 are fixed to the four connection members 3 respectively and each stationary member 4 has a second hole 41 defined therethrough. A second tube 42 extends from a top of each stationary member 4 and encloses the second hole 41. A second flange 43 extends inward from an open top of a tapered inner periphery of each of the second tubes 42. The second tubes 42 are in alignment with the first tubes 32.

Four sleeves 5 are engaged with the aligned first and second tubes 32, 42 respectively, and each sleeve 5 has a tapered outer periphery and a tapered inner periphery. Two first grooves 52 are defined in the tapered outer periphery of each of the sleeves 5 and the first and second flanges 33, 43 are engaged with the two first grooves 52 of each sleeve 5. Four legs 6 each have a tapered outer periphery which is engaged with respective one of the tapered inner peripheries of the sleeves 5. Each of the sleeves 5 has a lip 53 extending inward from the tapered inner periphery thereof and each of the legs 6 has a plurality of second grooves 61 defined in the tapered outer periphery thereof. The lip 53 of each of the sleeves 5 is engaged with one of the second grooves 61 of each of the legs 6.

The sleeves 5 are made by flexible material so that the sizes of the legs 6 can be made slightly larger than the sizes of the sleeves 5 so that the sleeves 5 are expanded when the legs 6 are inserted therein. The expansion of the sleeves 5 makes the flanges 33, 43 to be securely engaged with the first grooves 52. Because of the engagement between the first grooves 52 and the flanges 33, 43, the sleeves 5 do not moved toward the top 1 of the workbench even a heavy load is applied on the top 1. The legs 6 do not move toward the top 1 because of the engagement of the lips 53 and the second grooves 61. By the connection devices, the legs 6 can be easily separated from the top 1 when needed.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A workbench comprising: a top; at least three connection members fixed to an underside of the top, each connection member having a first hole defined therethrough and a first tube extending from a top of the connection member and enclosing the first hole, a first flange extending inward from a tapered inner periphery of each of the at least three first tubes; at least three stationary members fixed to the at least three connection members respectively and each stationary member having a second hole defined therethrough, a second tube extending from a top of each of the at least three stationary members and enclosing the second hole, a second flange extending inward from a tapered inner periphery of each of the at least three second tubes, the second tubes being in alignment with the first tubes; at least three sleeves engaged with the aligned first and second tubes, respectively, each of the at least three sleeves having a tapered outer periphery and a tapered inner periphery, two first grooves defined in the tapered outer periphery of each of the at least three sleeves and the first and second flanges are engaged with the two first grooves of each sleeve, and at least three legs each having a tapered outer periphery which is engaged with respective one of the at least three tapered inner peripheries of the at least three sleeves.
 2. The workbench as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least three sleeves has a lip extending inward from the tapered inner periphery thereof and each of the at least three legs has at least one second groove defined in the tapered outer periphery thereof, the lip of each of the at least three sleeves being engaged with the at least one second groove of each of the at least three legs.
 3. The workbench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top includes two side walls extending downward from two sides thereof and each side wall has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the at least three connection members are connected on the horizontal portions. 